Tags: Life Sciences
Where food law meets intellectual property: Food IP through last year’s case law
Government decisions can often have a significant impact on companies in the agrifood and life sciences sectors. But what options do you have if you disagree with such a decision? Which steps are available to you, and which route – administrative or judicial – is the most suitable in your case?
Belgian Parliament has adopted urgent 2026 healthcare budget measures: what’s the impact on the pharma industry?
Over the Christmas break, the Belgian Parliament adopted an urgent law with several measures linked to the approved 2026 healthcare budget, with effect from 1 January 2026. The law is intentionally limited to provisions that must enter into force immediately to ensure that the required savings and revenues are available from the start of the […]
EU Reaches Pharma Package Deal: Key Changes at a Glance
On 11 December 2025, following overnight negotiations, the Council and the European Parliament announced a political agreement on the long-awaited Pharma Package (see here). The reform seeks to update the EU’s pharmaceutical rulebook to facilitate access to safe and affordable treatments and bolster the life sciences sector’s competitiveness. While more detailed information is still trickling […]
Silent night, mighty right? The ascent of the variety denomination | Plant Variety Rights X-Mas Special – Part 2
Plant Variety Rights (PVR) quietly shape how new varieties reach our fields, kitchens and shop shelves. As we wrap up the year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on what’s been cooking in the world of PVR. Building on last year’s insights, this year’s focus is on the increasing importance and enforcement of variety denominations—not […]
Belgian Constitutional Court strikes down pharma industry ‘unavailability contribution’
The Belgian Constitutional Court (“CC”), on 6 November 2025, annulled some provisions of the Law of 18 May 2024 containing various provisions on health and finance, striking down the pharma industry ‘unavailability contribution’. Background Parts of the above Law sought to protect patients from bearing additional costs when reimbursable medicines become unavailable and must be […]
Food Hygiene for Fish: EU General Court Requires Scientific Basis to “Clarify” the Law
Food company Mowi Poland successfully challenged the European Commission’s new hygiene rules governing ‘stiffening’—a specialised fish processing technique—on the grounds that the Commission failed to obtain mandatory scientific consultation. While the Commission defended its approach by characterising the measures as mere “clarification” of existing law and citing industry guidelines as support, the EU General Court […]
Combination therapies in Belgium: how to collaborate without breaching competition law
As the landscape of modern medicine evolves, combination therapies—those that use two or more distinct medicines, often from different companies—are becoming increasingly vital, especially in treating complex diseases like cancer. These therapies promise improved clinical outcomes through synergistic mechanisms of action. However, the reimbursement process for such therapies presents significant regulatory and legal challenges, particularly […]
LSS: Challenging Government Decisions: Legal Strategies in Agri-food & Life Sciences
Government decisions can often have a significant impact on companies in the agrifood and life sciences sectors. But what options do you have if you disagree with such a decision? Which steps are available to you, and which route – administrative or judicial – is the most suitable in your case?
Titanium dioxide: General Court strikes down classification as human carcinogen and ECJ now confirms
The European Commission often relies on scientific evidence for its regulatory decisions. But when challenged, how much deference is owed to the regulator’s interpretation of the underlying science?
REACH obligation to register imported chemicals may be assumed by a person other than the buyer
Under the EU’s REACH Regulation 1907/2006, substances must be registered with the European Chemicals Agency before being imported. The duty to register lies with the importer. In practice, the act of ‘importing’ often involves multiples actors, including the seller, the buyer and various intermediaries who move the goods across borders. So, who then should register […]
Two kiwis a day to chase constipation away – European Commission approves fruit health claim
The European Commission has authorised a new food health claim recognising the digestive health benefits of green kiwifruit. The claim—“Consumption of green kiwifruit contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency”—has recently been added to the Union list of permitted claims under Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, following a five-year authorisation process. Food-related health claims […]
Procurement of medical devices: New measures between the EU and China
Measures imposed by the EU On 30 June 2025, several measures entered into force that were imposed by the European Commission regarding the purchase of medical equipment originating from China. The following two measures apply: Bidders must therefore ensure that goods and services of Chinese origin do not exceed 50% of the total contract value […]